Summary of Primary Care Contracts
General Practitioners are independent contractors to the NHS and work under legal agreements that determine the services that must be delivered to patients under their care and how. These contracts which are often referred to as the core contract are held between NHS England (the purchaser or commissioner of the service) and the primary care contractors or provider of the service. Currently, the contracting mechanisms for the core contracts are the GMS, PMS, and APMS contracts.
Operational planning and contracting guidance 2021/22
General Medical services (GMS)
Personal medical services (PMS)
Alternative Provider of Medical services
A nationally negotiated contract.
This came into force in 2004 and has undergone annual amendments since its inception. The annuals contract negotiations are held between the General Practitioners Committee of the British Medical Association and NHS England.
Locally negotiated contract.
Although the PMS contract is locally negotiated between a contractor and the Clinical Commissioning Group, the bulk of its content mirrors the GMS contract.
Locally negotiated contract.
Allows flexibility to commission services from any contractor.
Additional Services
Contractors can also opt in to deliver extra services to their patients on top of their core services. These include;
- Contraception
- Minor Surgery
Quality and Outcomes Framework
(QOF)
Find out more about the QoF by clicking here
Influenza
Find out more about the Annual Influenza Vaccination Programme by clicking here